Moral leaders shine light on path of non-violent movements

For those festering in the Hong Kong bubble where global history and experience mean little when discussing the concept of civil disobedience, let's consider some of the world's most formidable leaders who have resorted to action of this kind.

Names that spring to mind are Indian hero Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr in the US, and Emmeline Pankhurst, who was at the forefront of the struggle for women's right to vote in Britain. Then, we cannot ignore the great South African leader Nelson Mandela, who initially favoured using civil disobedience to fight the apartheid regime before turning to armed struggle.

These leaders were inspired by Henry David Thoreau, the 19th-century ideologist of civil disobedience who maintained citizens had a moral right to transgress unjust laws and policies. Thoreau and his followers have also been adamant that this should be done in a non-violent manner.

The organisers of the Occupy Central movement have stressed adherence to the principle of non-violence, but they have been questioned over whether they can justify their plan to defy public order laws.

We need not pore over Thoreau's writings to answer this, but should consider the experience of his followers, for example, the women's votes advocates who defied public order laws to make their case, much in the same way that the US civil rights movement defied numerous bans on assembly.

Fast-forwarding to the situation in Hong Kong, we see mounting frustration in a sophisticated society whose people are deprived of the right to elect their own government, even though this right is enshrined in the Basic Law.

This frustration is even acknowledged by members of our unelected administration who resist attempts to bring forward proposals for constitutional reform. This week, in the face of a massive pro-democracy rally, the best response the chief executive could muster was that he would issue a consultation document at some unspecified time.